As part of the celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention, a program was held between June 16 and 18 in the Central Anatolian province of Sivas, with the participation of 300 people from 37 countries. The guests, including UNESCO representatives, press members, travel writers, tourism company officials and guides, visited historical locations in the city on the first day of the meeting.The goal of the program, organized by the Sivas Governor’s Office and Cultural and Tourism Provincial Directorate, is to promote the historic Divriği Ulu Mosque and Darüşşifa -- which has been in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1985 -- to the world.

Historical venues like the Archaeology Museum, the Çifte Minaret Madrasa, the Buruciye Madrasa, the Gökmedrese and the Congress Museum drew big interest from the program’s guests, particularly the representatives from the foreign press.

Sivas Culture and Tourism Director Kadir Pürlü said guests were very important for the promotion of the city. “We have invited 40 countries for the program and 37 countries attended,” he said.

On the second day, the participants were taken to see the world famous Kangal dogs of the city.